Installing an electric door and gate isn’t something you just do with a screwdriver and a Youtube video. There are a lot of electrical work that will need to be done to ensure that all of the work meets the legal and safety guidelines. If the work is done incorrectly, it can be a hazard and very costly. Additionally, it can cause others to be hurt and even cause problems that will make your insurance void.
Here is a brief overview of the electrical work needed for the automatic control and electric doors and gates and instances that will need a certified electrician.
Electrical Requirements for Automated Doors
Remote control and automatic access systems like electric gates and garage doors need to have a reliable electrically accessible main power supply. The motor units usually run off of 230V, like your home electrical systems, but in some cases like with big commercial systems, they can use three-phase power.
The supply needs to be enough for the motor load. Domestic garage door motors use about 3-5 amps during working, which does not seem like too much, but they will need to have their own dedicated circuit. Using an extension cord to run the door from the house is very risky. The extension cord could be a hazard because it is not rated for outdoor use and it can cause a trip hazard. If you have gates that are far away from the house at the end of an expansive driveway, it will be even more challenging to run power to that area.
You can’t just run a power cable over the surface. It needs to be buried to a specified depth and properly protected against possible damage. The regulations specify how deep wires need to be buried (450mm under grassed areas and 750mm under driveways) as well as what type of cable and protection is required. Some gate systems use low voltage control circuit (12V and 24V) which is safer to work with, but a proper mains supply is still needed for the transformer which steps down the voltage. There are solar powered gates, but they are only practical in locations where running mains power is very expensive due to battery backup and reliability issues. The circuit supplying your door or gate must have RCD (Residual Current Device) protection. This is an electrical safety device which turns the power off to avoid electric shock and is very necessary in the case of automated doors and gates since they are, by definition, outdoor electrical installations which are vulnerable to weather. Part P of the Building Regulations covers the safety of electrical work included in the construction of a building.
One of the new installations that need to comply with regulations includes wiring for electric gates and wiring for garage doors. ** The regulations state that electrical work needs to be completed by either an electrician who can self-certify their work or needs an inspection and testing by building control. ** There is technically nothing wrong with DIY electrical work. However, building control needs to be contacted before you start, and you will have to pay for an inspection afterwards. This is often a bigger cost than just hiring an electrician. ** If you are an electrician with a NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA membership, you will be able to complete the job and be able to offer an electrical installation certificate. ** This is important because you need to prove the work is done to an acceptable standard and that will be an issue when you try to sell your house. ** Getting a legally defensible electrical certificate involves a lot of work. For example, you need to prove that you followed the right procedures when it came to cable sizes, circuit protection, earthing arrangements, and testing results. ** The installation must be safe to prevent fire and electric shock risks. ** The needs are even greater when installations are for commercial purposes.
Your electrical wiring has to follow BS 7671 (the IEE Wiring Regulations), and based on the site location, you may also need to obtain periodic inspection reports. Emergency Electrician Services for Door Systems. A faulty electric gate or garage door is usually very inconvenient, and the worst times to break down are when you are heading to work or when you need to get vehicles in and out of a business parking lot. While most of the problems are mechanical and not electric, some are electrical problems that need urgent attention from an electrician. Problems in power supply om ain disruptions may be straight forwards or may be more complex. In some cases, it’s a blown fuse or tripped RCD that you are able to reset. However, if the RCD continues to trip, a fault needs investigation. Issues may be moisture in the connections, a damaged cable insulation or a faulty motor. Emergency electricians usually charge a flat call out fee and then charge hourly on top of that. Evening, weekend and public holiday call outs usually are more expensive. A call out fee of 80-150, and 50 to 100 per hour on top of that is the average charge. For business locations, these costs are worth it if a faulty gate is hindering business operations. Many gate and door installers also provide emergency repairs and these are usually a better price than calling a general electrician.
They may have worked with similar systems and likely have common spare parts. Estimated Costs for Professional Installations for Automated Door Systems and Gates The electrical installation for an automated door or gate system can range from £200-600 based on the complexity. For example, if we take a simple garage door system installation, and a socket outlet is already present within reasonable distance, we are looking at running a supply and connecting within a couple of seeing 2-3 hours. This might only cost £200-300. Gates at the driveway end have more detail complexities. If we have to trench dig, lay armoured cable, and install an outdoor socket or connection point, and wire control panels, and safety devices, then we are looking at a day’s work or more than that. For the electrical work alone, rough cost £400-800 on top of gate installation costs. Some gate installers price all electrical work inclusive, having their own in-house electricians, or calling in electrical subcontractors. Others only price the gate mechanical installation, and expect you will separately arrange the electrical work. Make no assumptions, and communicate what your expectations are to ensure no disappointment. For electrical work on a commercial installation with more than one gate, barriers, access control systems, and/or CCTV integrated, electrical work estimates can be in the thousands. Design of the systems is critical, appropriate cable sizes for longer runs, sufficient earthing arrangements, and in many cases backup power supplies are essential.
This isn’t a job for general electricians – you need to hire someone with experience with access control and security systems. Getting the electrical work right from the start avoids issues down the road. Trying to save money by improperly powering supplies is a false economy when you end up paying to fix it right afterwards.